مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 283 (هفته چهارم خرداد 1393)

Electroencephalogram (EEG) shows the electrical activity of the brain and is one of the most important diagnostic tools for neurological diseases and disabilities. Dysgraphia is one of the most common learning disabilities occurs regardless of the ability to read and is not due to intellectual impairments. Nonlinear methods are used in recent studies to access the electroencephalogram in children with dysgraphia. In this study, nonlinear analysis of electroencephalogram in writing-disabled children for a better understanding of brain functions was done. The Renyi entropy estimation and Welch power spectrum estimation methods were used. Writing-disabled children's brains were more complex at the time of writing than the rest condition as a result of more erratic behavior and thus, more asynchronous activation of neurons in the central brain zone. There was a higher proportion of Theta/Beta and Theta/Alpha in writing mood showed more brain insufficiency in writing compared to the rest condition. Neurofeedback, as a new approach in the treatment of learning disabilities, is proposed to modify the electrical activity of the brain in writing-disabled children.

Brucellosis is a common chronic infectious disease among humans and animals (zoonoses) and one of the major health problems in many parts of the world, which in recent years has become epidemic in some parts of the world. The disease is a major public health problem in areas where the animal is the source of income and employment. So, identifying the factors influence the prevalence of the disease plays an important role in managing it. In this research, the relation of climate (temperature and precipitation) and geographical (height from sea level) factors with the prevalence of Brucellosis in Lorestan province, Iran, was studied. To identify climatic variables affecting the incidence of brucellosis, Arc GIS software for zoning districts-based variables were used. In Aligoodarz city, as a high-risk area on the spatial distribution map, the 3-month mean temperature was less than 3.3ᵒC and the height from sea level was more than 1900 meters. The correlation of the disease prevalence and the cold weather and the height from sea level was proved; but the average annual rainfall was not significantly correlated with the prevalence of brucellosis in various cities of the province. The results of this study showed the relationship the height from sea level and the cold weather with an increased incidence of brucellosis in Lorestan province.

Renal transplantation is the appropriate and most effective therapeutic strategy for patients with end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to determine the five-year survival rate of renal transplantation graft and affecting factors.

A survival analysis study was performed on the data of 756 renal transplants in Kermanshah, Iran, during 2001 to 2012. Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression methods and log-rank tests were used to estimate the graft survival rate and comparison of cumulative survival difference between the groups was done using STATA software.

Via Kaplan-Meier method, the estimated survival rate of grafts at six months and one, three and five years were 89.0, 87.4, 80.0 and 75.0 percent, respectively. Cox regression model showed that the variables of kinship, donor and recipient sex, and after-surgery creatinine and hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with graft survival rate.

The five-year survival rate was 75.0% for renal transplants in the studied center, does not seem satisfactory compared with reported rates of major transplant centers.

The hypothesis that changes in oxidative phosphorylation induce by mitochondrial dysfunction involved in tumorgenesis is so long discussed. Mitochondrion is vital for cell proliferation and has irreversible central role in the apoptosis (programmed cell death). Furthermore, mtDNA mutations have been founded in various cancer cells; although, the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations remains largely unknown. The mitochondria mutations do not lead to its deactivation but these mutations can change biosynthesis, bioenergetics, signal transduction, transcription and chromatin structure of the cell. In this paper, the major impairment in mtDNA and its effect on tumorgenesis were discussed.

Type II diabetes is one of the carbohydrate disorders that is one of the most common types of chronic diseases in many countries of the world including Iran. Recently, pumpkin consumption is recognized as one of the herbs in treatment of the diabetes. In addition, consumption of fermented dairy products and probiotics have beneficial effects on people with type II diabetes. The aim of this study was investigation the effect of pumpkin and probiotic yogurt consumption separately or/and simultaneously on type II diabetes. This was a parallel randomized clinical trial study. 80 eligible participants randomly were divided to 4 groups: 1- green pumpkin (100 g); 2- probiotic yoghurt (150 g); 3- pumpkin and probiotic yoghurt (100 g pumpkin plus 150 g yoghurt); and 4- control (dietary advice). Pumpkin and probiotic yoghurt were consumed at lunch time. Total cholesterol levels decreased in all intervention groups; however these changes in probiotic yogurt and probiotic yogurt + pumpkin groups were significant. In all interventional groups, the level of triglyceride decreased and the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased; the changes were significant in yogurt + pumpkin group. Probiotic yogurt consumption separately or simultaneously with pumpkin decreased the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). All interventional treatments led to significantly decreased fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and high sensitivity c-reactive protein (hsCRP). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) decreased significantly in pumpkin and probiotic yogurt groups. According to present study, pumpkin consumption separately or simultaneously with probiotic yogurt have beneficial effects on lipid profiles, FBS, HbA1C and hsCRP.